The Collection
The American Wing Ancient Near Eastern Art Arms and Armor The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing Asian Art The Cloisters The Costume Institute Drawings and Prints Egyptian Art European Paintings European Sculpture and Decorative Arts Greek and Roman Art Islamic Art Robert Lehman Collection The Libraries Medieval Art Musical Instruments Photographs Antonio Ratti Textile Center Modern and Contemporary Art

Returned to lender The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.

Staff: Finial with Female Figure and Child

19th–early 20th century

Not on view

The hierarchical distinction between this seated female and the miniature figure positioned horizontally across her lap is evident through the disparity in scale as well as their body language. The diminutive secondary figure gazes outward and his hands are joined together as if bound. The dominant female grasps a receptacle in her right hand and wears an elaborate necklace of cowries with a massive central bead.

Staff: Finial with Female Figure and Child, Ivory, metal, wood, Kongo peoples — This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Staff: Finial with Female Figure and Child, Ivory, metal, wood, Kongo peoples

Staff: Finial with Female Figure and Child, Ivory, metal, wood, Kongo peoples

Staff: Finial with Female Figure and Child, Ivory, metal, wood, Kongo peoples

Staff: Finial with Female Figure and Child, Ivory, metal, wood, Kongo peoples

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Title: Staff: Finial with Female Figure and Child

Date: 19th–early 20th century

Geography: Democratic Republic of the Congo; Republic of the Congo; Cabinda, Angola

Culture: Kongo peoples

Medium: Ivory, metal, wood

Dimensions: H. 33 3/4 in. (85.7 cm), W. 2 in. (5.1 cm), D. 2 in. (5.1 cm)

Classification: Bone/Ivory-Implements

Credit Line: Collection of Amy and Elliot Lawrence

The Met

The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing at The Met

The Met's collection of art of the peoples of sub-Saharan Africa, the Pacific Islands, and North, Central, and South America comprises more than eleven thousand works of art of varied materials and types, representing diverse cultural traditions from as early as 3000 B.C.E. to the present.